Surface cleaning apparatus



Aug. 7, 1951 D. N. WAYNE 2,563,696

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet .1

5 Doug/as N. Wayne 2 I INVENTOR.

Aug. 7, 1951 D. N. WAYNE 2,563,696

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A F ig. 2

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I 4 /4 n o 76 72 72 \QIID Doug/as N. Wayne INVENTOR.

BY 2mm 1951 A D. N. WAYNE 2,563,696

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 &

Doug/as N. Wayne INVENTOR.

BY @MM Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,563,696 SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Douglas N. Wayne, New York, N. Y.

Application July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,454

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in surface cleaning apparatus and the primary object of the present invention is toprovide an attachment for window frames, or such other structural elements supporting surfaces that are to be cleaned, which is. so designed as to permit the surfaces to be cleaned and dried in an efficient and effective manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaning apparatus especially applicable for window sashes that will permit window panes and the like to be freed of dirt and other foreign matter and cleaned in a safe and sanitary manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaning machine embodying a vertically movable casing and including novel and improved means for ejecting or dispensing a cleaning fluid from the same at a predetermined point during the movement of said casing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning attachment for double hung window sashes that is so applied as to permit opening and closing movement of the window sashes without appreciable restriction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaning apparatus including a movable casing supporting a surface wiping and cleaning means, and embodying novel and improved means for supporting said casing relative to a surface that is to be cleaned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for cleaning, polishing or treat- 'ing surfaces, including a plurality of rotatable feed screws, a movable support traveling on said screws, and novel and improved manual or power means for rotating said feed screws to effect a movement of said support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a window cleaner that is applied to the inner and outer surfaces of a window so that the window may be quickly and readily cleaned in a convenient and safe manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a surface treating apparatus that is applicable for display windows, display counters, polished wall surfaces, floor surfaces and the like, and which will accommodate itself, with slight structural variations, to vehicle windows, thus permitting surfaces otherwise requiring a tedious operation for treating to be worked by a single person with very little expended energy.

A still further aim of the present invention is 5 Claims. (01. 252) to provide a surface treating apparatus that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, small and compact in structure, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a window structure and showing the present invention applied to the upper and lower sashes thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 2.--2 of Figure 1, and showing the liquid containers in a partially raised position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, transverse, horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1, and showing the manual means for rotating the feed screws;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 'I'I of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary group perspective view illustrating the casing and squeegee that is supported therein; and,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a window structure showing the present invention applied thereto, and the power means which is employed for rotating the feed screws.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numerals I0 and [2 represent a pair of externally threaded rods or feed screws having smooth surfaced end portions that rosqueegee or surface cleaning member 44.

a contact or connecting plate I52.

tatably engage suitable bearing members or brackets I4 which are removably secured to and recessed in a supporting structural element, such as a window sash I6.

Upper and lower pairs of traveling members or blocks 29 and 22 are movable on the feed screws Ii] and I2 and include outwardl projecting support arms 24 and 26 respectively, the opposed surfaces of which are longitudinally notched as at 28 to receive the upper and lower portions of a substantially rectangular casing or liquid container 30, of any suitable light weight, non-corrosive material. In order to remove the casing 30 from its supported position relative to the traveling members and 22, it is merely necessary to swing the said traveling members in a similar direction and then move one pair of the traveling members outwardly to disengage the said casing whereupon the casing may be removed from all of the traveling members.

Alongitudinal support strip 32 is suitably secured to the upper wall 34 of the casing and includes an inclined or sloping longitudinal face 36 from which there projects a plurality of Iongitudinally spaced, externall threaded rods 38 that are slidably received in transverse slots 40 provided in the channeled base portion 42 of a Wing nuts or the like 46 receivably engage the rod 38,

and bear against the upper face of the base portion 42 to retain the squeegee relative to the strip '32, and due to the sloping surface 36, inclined to the longitudinal axis of the casing 30 and the surface that is to be engaged by the squeegee.

Secured to the upper wall 34 of the casing 30, at the center thereof and adjacent the strip 32 is a plurality of longitudinally spaced resilient guide members or sleeves 48 that slidably support piston rods or bars 56. The lower ends of the bars 50, or the ends of the bars which are disposed in the casing 30, are removably secured to a substantially rectangular plunger plate or valve 52 that is workable in the casing 3 and which normally closes a plurality of longitudinally spaced delivery orifices or ports 54 provided in the inner wall 56 of the casing 30, adjacent the upper wallthereof.

The upper terminals of the rods 50 are externally threaded and receivably engage pairs of nuts 58 and 68 between which there is clamped Resilient contact pads or cups e4 embrace the upper nuts 58 for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent.

Coil springs 56 embrace the rods and are biased between the lower nuts 69 and washers 68 on the rods 50 to normally retain the plunger 52 raised and the ports 54 closed by the said plunger, as shown best in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. By adjusting the nut 60, it is apparent that an equalizing eifect on the spring 66 may be maintained in order to cause the plunger to be spaced parallel to the upper wall 34 of the casing 30 throughout its sliding movement.

Reference is now directed to Figures 1, 2, i and 5 wherein there is disclosed the manual means for rotating the feed screws Iii and I2 to raise or lower the casing 3.

Journaled for rotation in any suitable number of bearings or brackets 88 that are removably secured to and recessed in a window sash or a supporting structural element, is a pair of axially aligned, longitudinally spaced bars or shafts III the ends of which support preferabl bevel gears I2 and M. The bevel gears l2 on the shafts I0 engage bevel gears 16 on the feed screws I0 and I2, and the gears H3 engage a driving bevel gear I3 that is mounted on a transverse, rotatable shaft 883 carried by the window sash. The driving gear I8 is provided with a multi-sided socket 82 that receives the multi-sided end portion of a suitable crank handle 84, whereby a rotation of the said crank handle in one direction will cause the traveling members 20 and 22 to move upwardly on the feed screws I0 and I2, and a rotation of the crank handle in an opposite direction will move the traveling members downwardly on the feed screws II] and I2.

In order to clean both sides of a window pane 86, there is provided a similar structure, as previously described including the screws I0 and I2, the traveling members 20 and 22, and the casing and plunger structure, which is mounted on the I opposite side of the window sash, however, the

shafts 10 are not employed. Transverse shafts 88 extend through and are journaled in suitable apertures in the lower portion of the window sash. The ends of these shafts 88 support bevel gears 90 and 92 that respectively engage the bevel gears I5 of the feed screws Ill and I2 on both sides of the window sash, whereby a rotation of the crank handle 84 will raise and lower both casings 3!] on both sides of the window. It should be noted, that the bevel gears 16 on the feed screws disposed on the outer side of the window are oppositely arranged, .as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings, so that the feed screws I0 and I2 will also rotate in a similar direction to uniformly raise the casings or lower the casings in a step by step movement.

Removably secured to the inner wall of the casing 30, is a channeled strip 94 that supports a suitable cleaning pad, sponge, cloth or the like 96 that will bear against the window pane 86 or such other surface that is to be cleaned.

Integrally formed with the upper wall 34 of the casing 36, is an externally threaded nipple 98 that receives a closure cap I00 which is removed to permit a suitable cleaning fluid to be placed into the casing 30.

In practical use of the present invention, the I casing 30 is first filled with a suitable cleaning fluid that will pass about the side edges of the plunger 52 and will be disposed between the lower portion of the casing 30 and the plunger 52.

When the crank handle 84 is rotated in one direction, the casing 30 will be raised together with the traveling members 20 and 22, in a smooth step by step movement, until the cushion elements or pads 6 simultaneously engage the upper cross member of the window sash, or a suitable stop strip carried by the sash or the structure that is to be cleaned whereupon the plunger 52 will be forced downwardly (dotted lines in Figure 6) thus forcing the cleaning fluid through the ports 54 to engage the window pane 86.

The crank handle is then rotated in an opposite direction, and the casing 30 is lowered with the traveling members 20 and 22. During the lowering of the casing 3|], the plunger 52 will be urged upwardly by the spring 66, and any liquid disposed between the plunger and the upper wall of the casing 30 will be forced through the ports 54, thus providing a two-way delivery action for dispensing the liquid from the casing, during the initial down stroke of the plunger and the up stroke of the plunger.

As the casing is lowered, the pad will tend to loosen any dirt present on the surface bein cleaned and will absorb a certain amount of the liquid therefrom, and the squeegee, following the pad 96, will properly clean the surface and remove any excess liquid thereon.

It should be noted, that the present invention is applied not only to both sides of a window sash but also to the upper and lower sashes of adouble hung window. However, when the same is used in this capacity, the shafts are applied to the upper cross member of the upper sash, to permit the upper and lower sashes to be raised or lowered, and the upper and lower cross members of the sashes are appropriately notched as at I02, see Figure 4, and the feed screws I0 and I2 of the upper sash are spaced relative to the feed screws of the lower sash in such a manner as not to engage each other during the raising or loweringof the said sashes.

Reference is next directed to Figure 9, wherein there is disclosed a power means for raising and lowering the traveling members on the feed screws. In this embodiment, a small electric motor (such as a sewing machine motor) I04 is supported on the window sash by a suitable bracket H16, and a beveled gear I08 is carried by the drive shaft thereof and engages the bevel gear 12 of one of the feed screws, for example feed screw [2. Since it is not desirable to employ a motor for each pair of feed screws l0 and 12, the shafts 10 are suitably coupled and with a proper gear ratio, the pairs of feed screws 10 and I2 will rotate at the same rate of'speed to raise and lower the traveling members 20 and 22.

A switch Illl controlsthe motor I04 and the wires (not shown) from the switch to the motor are sufficiently long as to permit the window sash or sashes to be raised without ailecting a breakage or twisting of the wires.

Obviously, the motor or power means could be supported at the center of the window sash to engage the bevel gear 14 and the same may be employed in conjunction with the manual raising means or used independently thereof.

Although pads 64 are provided and stated as embracing the upper nuts 58, it is evident that the nut 60 could be recessed in the upper face of the plate 62 and the plate 62 could be provided with a resilient upper contact surface which would function in the same capacity as the pad 64. In most instances it is desirable to have this latest structure since the entire surface of the contact element would engage a stop or supporting structure to equally move the piston rods and eifect a movement of the plunger 52.

It is also preferred that the squeegee be of such construction as to permit the same to be removed from its base portion thereby permitting the same to be quickly and readily replaced when desired.

Although the drawings and description have been directed more specifically to a structure wherein the casing will move vertically on vertically disposed guides it is obvious that the guides could be disposed in a horizontal position with the casing moving in a horizontal direction with slight changes to the shape of the casing and its valve structure.

The principal feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment for window structures whereby the same may be cleaned in a safe manner by a user seated or standing within the room area. However, it is apparent from the described structure that the same is applicable for large windows, such as display windows in which instance hydraulic power means or electric power means is associated, as shown in Figure 9, so that the casings will be simultaneously raised by a switch controlling the power operating means. With such a construction, it is apparent that the windows may be cleaned in a minimum time and with the necessity of having only a single attendant.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skill-ed in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein 7 described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A surface treating apparatus comprising a plurality of rotatable vertically disposed screws anchored on a window sash, traveling members received on said screws for vertical movement, means for rotating said screws, a liquid container supported b said traveling members and having delivery orifices, a vertically slidable plunger workable in said container, a plurality of spaced parallel operating rods carried by said plunger and slidably mounted on said container, said plunger normally closing said orifices, a contact plate secured to each of said rods and engageable with a stop to actuate said plunger at a predetermined point during the raising movement of said traveling members to urge the plunger downwardly in the container, means for urging the plunger upwardly during the lowering of the container to force a liquid from said orifices, and surface cleaning means carried by said container.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for urging said plunger upwardly includes resilient members embracing said rods and biased between said contact plate and said container, said resilient members being disposed exteriorly of said container.

3. In a window structure including a sash having upper and lower substantially horizontal portions; a window cleaner comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertical feed screws mounted on said upper and lower portions for rotation, upper and lower blocks threaded on said rods, an arm projecting horizontally from each block, an elongated casing having its ends clamped between the arms of said upper and lower blocks, means for rotating said screws, a surface cleaning member mounted on said casing and extending throughout the length of said casing, said casing adapted to receive a cleaning solution, said casing having a plurality of delivery orifices, a plunger mounted in the casing for urging a cleaning solution through the orifices, and means secured to the plunger for engaging the upper portion of the sash to actuate the plunger during raising of said casing.

l. In a window structure including a sash having upper and lower horizontal portions and spaced vertical portions; a window cleaner comprising a first pair of spaced parallel vertical feed screws journaled for rotation on said upper and lower portions and on one side of the sash, a second pair of spaced parallel vertical feed screws journaled on said upper and lower portions and disposed on the other side of said sash, means mounted on the sash for simultaneously rotating all of said screws, an upper and lower pair of traveling members received on each of said screws,

an elongated casing for each pair of screws and having its ends clamped between the upper and lower traveling members, said casings having a plurality of openings therein, means mounted in each of the casings for pumping a solution in the casings from the openings, and means for engaging the upper portion of the sash during raising of the casings to actuate said means for pumping a solution from the openings.

5. In a window structure including a sash having upper and lower horizontal portions and spaced vertical portions; a window cleaner comprising a first pair of spaced parallel vertical feed screws journaled for rotation on said upper and lower portions and on one side of the sash, a

second pair of spaced parallel vertical feed screws screws, an elongated casing for each pair of screws and having its ends clamped between the upper and lower traveling members, said casings having a plurality of openings therein, a plunger plate mounted in each casing for lifting a solution in the casings toward the openings, rods slidably carried by the upper wall of each casing, said rods being secured to said plates, a connector for the rods of each casing, and spring means urging the rods outwardly of the casings.

DOUGLAS N. WAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,157 Wheeler Dec. 16, 1902 1,165,771 Gallo Dec. 28, 1915 1,416,280 Gazdzicki May 16, 1922 I 1,423,823 Wojnarski Sept. 12, 1922 Martin Nov. 20, 1923 

